He says in page 3, line 1, " In the course of that fall and winter (of 1784) he made progress in some Steam-engines, and page 16 line 7, of Governor Johnsons letter, " I think in October 1785, you told me you relied on Steam for your first power, and wished me to promote your having some cylinders cast at my brother's and my works; the attempt did not succeed." Speaking of General Washington, the Governor adds " But the General seems to have thought it an irhmafured idea that he did not imagine you then relyed on^^ (viz. in November 1784.) These two last acknowl edgements on the part of M^" Rumsey, must destroy the facts ailed ged in the first, viz. that " He made progress in Steamengines in the fall and ^Yinter of 1784." For the information given to General Washington in confidence respecting the boat, was such that the General "Did not think he then relyed on Steam," which is fully confirmed, by his making use of the General's certificate to the Assemblies, wherein the discovery is treated as being "enhanced by its simplicity, and' may be executi.al by the

1050 EARLY STEAM

most common mechanic" which surely no person would say of a Steam engine.

His application to Governor Johnson for castings for a Steamengine, is insinuated to have been in October or November 17S5, which I must deny, and refer to the Governor's own letter for the proof; being c*itident that no such application had been made to that gentleman by M' Kuffisey, previotis to my obtaining the letter of Recommendation to Governor Sraallwood, But even had it been true it goes no further back than October or November 1785, which was the very time I was publishing my plan through Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, and was near three months after the time I laid it before Congress -- And yet this attempt to have a cylinder cast, at Governor Johnson's works in October or November 1785, is the first essay towards bringing forward a Steam-engine, that is offered in proof, admitting it to have been at the time Governor Johnson supposes, which I cannot allow for reasons I shall presently offer in addition to what I have already said on this head.